One current star who probably won't be able to attend is Aston Villa goalkeeper Scott Carson. He was keen to visit the show but his call-up for England and the possibility of a full international debut in Friday's friendly in Austria seems to have put paid to that.

Former Arsenal and England stars David Seaman and Lee Dixon now have a lot more time to get out on to the course and they too are expected to visit The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham.

Both are very keen golfers: Seaman now has his own charity golf event, while Dixon represented Arsenal in the inaugural Premiership Masters golf event, at The Oxfordshire GC, last year.

Snooker legend Willie Thorne now familiar to even more members of the public following his appearance in the current series of the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing has also expressed a desire to attend.

BBC radio personality DJ Spoony was the fashion show compere in the first year of the London Golf Show but he will be returning to The Golf Show, NEC Birmingham, as an interested spectator.